Dr. Siyabonga Cwele will step into Malusi Gigaba's shoes as the new Minister of Home Affairs as announced during the cabinet reshuffle Thursday afternoon.

Dr. Siyabonga Cwele served as the Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services from 2014. Before that, he was Minister of Intelligence from 2008 to 2009, and Minister of State Security from 2009 to 2014.

In addition, he is also serving as a Commissioner representing the South African Government on the UN Broadband Commission of Sustainable Developing.

Cwele has been been a Member of Parliament since 1994 and holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery in Medical Policy from the University of KwaZulu Natal, as well as a postgraduate diploma in child health, and an Master of Philospy in Economics.

Image credit: parliament.gov.za

Prior to the advent of democracy, Dr Cwele was involved during the struggle for liberation from the mid-eighties, and today serves a member of the national and provincial leadership of the ANC. During the cabinet reshuffle, President Ramaphosa said:

“In making these changes, I remain determined that the cabinet of our nation should have what I would call an appropriate mix of experience and capability, as well as gender, as well as a generation mix as well. And that it should have members who are committed to serve the people of our country.”

Cwele will be taking over from Malusi Gigaba, who resigned on 13 November after the public protector recommended that he face disciplinary process for violating the constitution and ethics codes by lying under oath.